As a pay battle between an 81-year-old labor and employment partner of Kelley Drye & Warren and the law firm nears its 12th anniversary, documents released Monday pursuant to a federal court order detail some of the issues in the age discrimination case.

Arguing that he was being treated unfairly by being forced to become a “life partner” at age 70 or so and then paid less than he would have been if evaluated on the $2.3 million in collections he said he had brought in that year, Eugene D’Ablemont wondered in “what may or may not be a sarcastic tone,” the Am Law Daily reported, in a December 2000 memo if he would get a bonus, or if his wife would have to continue to wear her “threadbare cloth coat.”

The firm has since changed its policy, and old partners are no longer required to change their status at a given age. Hence, D’Ablemont is listed as a partner on the firm’s attorney roster.

The Equal Employment Opportunity Commission has championed D’Ablemont’s cause, and the Manhattan federal district court case reportedly appeared to be nearing a settlement earlier this month.